Vapor-burner.



No. 792,562. PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905. E. THMSGN.

VAPOR BURNER.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 21. w01.

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Elihu Thomson.

NTTED STATES Patented June 13, 1905.

ELIHU THOMSON, OE SIVAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

VAPOR-BURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,562, dated June 13, 1905.

Oiiginal application tiled May 24, 1900, Serial No. 17,806. Divided and this application filed June 21, 1901. Serial No. 65,520%.

To {1J/Z whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELIHU THOMSON, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor-Burners, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a division of my pending application, Serial No. 17,806, filed May 24, 1900, on thermo-regulators for vaporburners, which division is made in accordance with the requirements of the United States Patent Oiiice under the provisions of Rules Nos. 4l and 42.

The invention relates to vapor-burners, and has for its object to provide a burner which can be automatically regulated in accordance with the demand made on the boiler for steam.

The invention further consists in certain improvementsin burner construction, which will be more fully described and claimed hereinafter.

In the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a boiler and burner. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with certain of the parts in section, the section being taken on a line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the main burner.

The boiler is composed of two metal cylinders A and B. The former cylinder surrounds the latter and is arranged concentrically therewith. On the periphery of the cylinder B is formed a spiral groove C, which constitutes a part of the water-passage of a Hash-boiler, the other part being formed by the outer cylinder A, which lits tightly over the inner cylinder. Projecting' inwardly from the inner wall of the cylinder B and outwardly from the periphery of the cylinder A are small projections D, which serve to baflie the flames, absorb the heat, and transmit it to the water or steam in the passage C. Mounted within the cylinder B and engaging with the projections thereon is a cylinder E of a refractory material, such as tire-brick. The end of the cylinder next the burners is closed by a disk E of heat-resisting material, so that the products of combustion are compelled to pass through the spaces between the projections D on their way to the rear chamber F. The entire boiler is surrounded by a casing Gr, made of lire-brick or other similar material, which is extended at the right-hand end to form a chamber for the main burner H and the auxiliary burner I and at the other end to form a chamber F for the waste products of combustion. Connecting with the last-mentioned chamber and extending over the boiler is a long Haring funnel or chimney J, having a series of holes J at the right-hand end, through which the products of combustion pass to the external air.

Vith boilers of the flash type water has to be continuously forced into the water-space at a relatively high pressure and at some point between the ends thereof is flashed into steam, and from that point on the steam becomes super-heated to a greater or less degree. Boilers of this type are preferably operated at high pressures varying, for example, from four hundred to iive hundred pounds, and when so operated a considerable difference in temperature exists between the steam and any body of water which may be forced through the water-space.

My invention depends for its operation upon the temperature difference existing between the steam and water, as distinguished from those thermo-regulators wherein the regulation is accomplished by changes in steam temperatures only. It sometimes happens that water under certain conditions Works its way through the boiler tube or passage either as a plug or as a continuous stream. When regulators of the ordinary pressure type designed to regulate the supply of fuel to the burner are employed, the water being under high pressure acts in a manner similar to steam, and consequently tends to reduce the supply of fuel at the very instant when it should be increased, and vice versa. I propose to overthe steam leaves the boiler; but, if desired, it can be located at some point more remote from the end. Near the delivery end of the boiler is a large opening K, and located therein and in direct contact with the steam or water, or both, as they pass to the outlet-pi pe Y is a thermostat L, the specilic construction of which will be hereinafter described. For the present it is suiiicient to say it is so arranged that it controls the opening' and closing of the air-pressure valves U and V.

The auxiliary burner I consists of a tube havinga plurality of openings through which the vapor escapes. Surroundingthe burner and provided with opening's Gliis a easing' G, made of lire-brick or other similar material, and from this casing the products of combustion pass through the opening's G2 into the main combustion-chamber. By reason of the casing G being open on the lower side sul'licient air is admitted at all times to maintain complete combustion, and the openings G2 therein permit the flame to enter the main chamber N and heat the boiler and also the vaporizer O. As shown, the vaporizer consists of a cylindrical tank, which communicates with the fuel-tank Q by means of a pipe O. The auxiliary flame can be adjusted by the hand-operated valve I and is not affected by the automatic regulator, so that no matter what the condition of the main iiame may be there is always heat enough developed by it to keep the vaporizer O in operative condition.

The main burner consists of a closed-end cylinder having a series of projecting nozzles H', each nozzle being provided with a single opening'. Opposite each nozzle and provided with a suitable stuffing-box is a pressed plunger H2. ',lhe plungers act as cleaners for holes in the nozzles and are normally retained in the outward position by the compressionsprings, as is indicated in Fig. 3. Vhen it is desired to clean any one of the holes, its plung'er is forced inwardly, and as soon as the pressure is relieved therefrom it returns to the inoperative position. That portion of the casing G which is located directly under the main burner is provided with a series of small holes for admitting air to the main casing for supporting' combustion. The casing' being' made of refractory and somewhat porous material and provided with air-admitting openings, the apparatus may be started into operation by flooding the bottom of the casing with oil from the main burner H and then causing' it to ignite, or separate starting means may be employed. l hen this is done, the liame will heat the vaporizer O until vapor is formed therein, and the flow of oil will cease. The method described for vaporizing oil for starting' may or may not be worked in conjunction with the auxiliary burner.

In order Yto change the direction of the flame-as, for example, when it is desired to increase or decrease the llame which strikes the vaporizer O-the burner is mounted for oscillatingmovementin the ends of a U-shaped pipe P. The ends of the cylindrical support for the burner-nozzles are closed around the pipe and suitable means are provided for preventing the escape of vapor. Secured to one end of the cylinder is an arm H3, whereby the position of the nozzles may be changed either directly or through some system of levers.

The vaporizer O consists of a hollow cylindrical body, which extends across the casing in front of the flames and may or may not be filled with asbestos or some such material for aiding' in the vaporization of the fuel. One end of the vaporizer is connected by a pipe O with the oil-tank Q, while connected to the bottom thereof is a pipe O, that unites with the pipe P, leading to the main burner, and also with the pipe I2, leading to the auxiliary burner. The passage of vapor to the main burner H is controlled by means of the valve P, actuated by alever Pi, Fig. 2, which lever is connected to the piston S. The piston is mounted within a cylinder S' and is, when not opposed by the air-pressure in the pipe R and cylinder, moved to the extreme left under the action of the coil con'ipressionspring S3. Oil is supplied to the vaporizer from the tank Q, where it is maintained under a practically constant airpressure received from the pipe R. The pressure in the pipe R is maintained by a pump or other suitable means. (Not shown.) With the valve P fully opened the fuel system is capable of furnishing the maximum amount of vapor necessary for any load for which the apparatus is designed.

The thermostat is made up of ltwo pieces of dissimilar metal, such as brass and iron or copper and iron, and these pieces are riveted together and are held in place within the receptacle K of the boiler by a clamp K at the upper end. T he lower ends are connected to the shaft T, which passes through a stuflingbox in the plate T', that closes the bottom of the boiler-opening' K. The opening' K is in direct communication with the passage in the boiler, and the thermostat is therefore in a position to instantly receive the benefit of any change in temperature either due to steam or water or a combination of both. The valves U and V are operated by an arm T2, which extends between their stems, a certain amount of lost motion being provided. rlhe valves U and V close as soon as the arm moves away from the stems, due to the airpressure. Each valve is provided with a proper seat, and the valve V is arranged to exhaust into the open air. The valveU is connected tothe pressure-pi pe R and controls the passage of fluid through the pipe R' to the cylinder, while the valve V is connected to the IOO IIO

pipe Si, which is also connected to the cylinder S.

The action of my invention is as follows: Assuming that the boiler is hot and that a suitable supply of' water is forced into it from the inlet-pipe IV, the flamein the auxiliary burner is maintained constant, due to the air-pressure on the fuel-tank. The vaporizer O is heated to a certain temperature and supplies vapor to the main burner. The rise ofl temperature above a certain point has its effect on the thermostat L, and it slowly unwinds and in doing so presses the stem of valve U to the left, and air-pressure is admitted to the pipeR. This insures the closing of' the exhaust-valve V, and the air-prcssu re forces the piston S against the action of' the coil-spring' S3 and decreases the opening in the fuel-controlling valve P to the proper point.

Assuming that for any cause the temperature of' the steam drops below a predetermined point-such, for example, as would take place when water passes through the boiler in the form of' a plug' or streamthe arm T of the thermostat will move in a clockwise direction, thereby relieving the pressure-valve U and permitting it to shut, at the same time opening the exhaust-valve V and exhausting the air from the cylinder S and the pipes R and S2. As soon as this is done the coiled compression-sl'niug S3 will open the fuel-valve P and permit an amount of fuel to fiow to the main burner which may vary from minimum to maximum in accordance with the demand. Between the ends of the two valve-stems is a dead-space', wherein the arm T is out of engagement, and when the apparatus is operating under normal conditions the arm will occupy this dead-space more or less ofl the time. The opening of the valves will generally be very slight.

By consti-noting and arranging the parts as shown I provide a regulator for flash-boilers workingwith superheated steam which isvery sensitive, and when f'or any reason water passes through the tube or passage in the boiler without being' converted into steam it will quickly reduce the temperature of the thermostat, and the latter will cause an increase in the fuel-supply. IVith this arrangement the regulation takes place immediately, for the controlling means is located directly in 'the path of' the outgoing steam or water, and

any change in temperature is instantly detected and compensated for.

l/Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a combination, a boiler, acasing therefor containingI a main fire-chamber, a main burner therein, an auxiliary fire-casing' having perforations by which it communicates with the main chamber, an auxiliary burner in said auxiliary casing, the liame from which passes through said perforations and unites with the fiame from the main burner to heat the boiler,

and a vaporizerlocated between the auxiliary casing and the main burner so that it is acted upon by the iames from both burners.

2. In a combination, aboiler, acasing therefor containing' a main lire-chamber, a main burner therein, an auxiliary fire-casing open to the atmosphere and extending into the main chamber and having perforations by which it communicates with said main chamber, an auxiliary burner inl said auxiliary casing, and a vaporizerlocated between the auxiliary casing and the main burner, and connected with both burners.

3. ln combination, aboiler, a burner having a plurality of'k nozzles, a means for simultaneously adjusting all of the nozzles to change their effect on the vaporizer, an auxiliary burner, a casing for the auxiliary burner, a vaporizer situated between the main and auxiliary burners, and acasing for the burners and boiler which is provided with an opening for discharging products of combustion. l

4. In combination, acasing, a boiler mounted in one end thereof, a chamber which is situated between the boilerl and the end of the casing, a burner mounted in the end of the casing opposite the boiler and chamber, a vaporizer situated between the burner and the boiler, and a Hue or chimney which connects with the chamber and extends bach over the casing substantially parallel therewith.

5. In combination, a casing, a boiler mounted therein, a chamber which is situated between tlie boiler and the end of' the casing, a main burner which is mounted in the opposite end of' the casing, a vaporizer situated between the burner and the boiler, an auxiliary burner which is situated between the boile'r and the vaporizer so that the flame therefrom will heat the vaporizer and also the boiler, and a flue which connects with the chamber and extends back over the casing toward the main burner. f Y

6. In combination, a boiler, a casing therefor, a burner located in one end of' the casing, a vaporizer' located between the boiler and burner, a chamber which is situated between the boiler and the otherend of the casing, and a flaring funnel which connects with the chamber. and extends back over the casing toward the burner.

7. In combination, a boiler,a casing in which the boiler is located at one end, a burner located within the casing and at the end opposite the boiler, a chamber situated between the end ofthe casing and the boiler and away from the burner, a baffling means for directing the iiames through fine-spaces in the boiler, and a flue which communicates with the chamber and conveys the products of' combustion over the boiler toward the burner.

8. In combination, a boiler, projections formed thereon for bafiiing the flames, a main burner, a second baffling device vfor directing the flames from the main burner toward said IOO IIO

projections, an auxiliary burner which is constantly in operation, a casing` for the boiler and burners, a chamber in the casing which receives the products of combustion after they impart heat to the boiler, and a Hue which opens into the said chamber.

9. In combination, a boiler, a burner, an auxiliary burner, a casing' for the auxiliary burner which is open to the atmosphere, a vaporizer which is acted upon by both burners, and a casing` Afor the burner and boiler which is also open to the atmosphere at a point adjacent to the burner and is provided with an orilice 'for discharging tbe products of combustion. 

